Chinese artist revives Lantern festival's ancient prosperity via exhibition

Exhibits include calligraphy, paintings, sculptures and live performances.

Chinese artist Qiu Zhijie is behind the exhibition, which he's calling "Qiu's Notes on 'Colorful Lanterns at Shangyuan Festival'."

Chinese artist Qiu Zhijie has arranged an exhibition "Qiu's Notes on 'Colorful Lanterns at Shangyuan Festival'" in Beijing. The event aims to show how popular the traditional Lantern Festival used to be among ancient Chinese people. [Photo: China Plus/Xu Fei]

Shangyuan Festival, known today as the Lantern Festival, falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, marking the end of the traditional Spring Festival holiday.

Qiu Zhijie says his inspiration comes from a scroll painting set-down during the Ming dynasty that shows colorful lanterns on display at festivals more than 400 years ago.

An exhibit, part of a comprehensive exhibition, showcases how Chinese ancestors were celebrating traditional Lantern Festival. The exhibition Qiu's Notes on 'Colorful Lanterns at Shangyuan Festival', which opened in Beijing on Friday afternoon, March 16, 2018, is now underway at the Minsheng Art Museum. [Photo: China Plus/Xu Fei]

The exhibition is scheduled to run until early May.